Lighting fixture installation



Dec. 11, 1951 L. K. SCHOENBROD 2,578,022

LIGHTING FIXTURE INSTALLATION Filed June 6, 1950 Patented Dec. 11,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,578,022 LIGHTING FIXTURE INSTALLATION .LeslieiK. Schocnbrod, Chicago, Ill., assignor to .Electro' ManufacturingCorporation, Chicago,

111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 6, 1950, Serial No.166,397

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a lighting fixtureinstallation which permits the fixture to be installed quickly andsimply by one man without the use of any special tools'or equipment. Myinvention may beuscd without modification or change in its physicalstructure for either fiush mounting orpendant mounting of the lightingfixture.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an installationwhich is economical in manu iacture and use and which may be easilyunderstood and used by a workman desiring to install the lightingfixture. My invention is particularly designed for fluorescent lightingfixtures, but may be used for other types of lighting fixtures and forother uses and purposes. 'My invention also comprises such otherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andwhich are inherentl possessed by myinvention. I

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments ofmy invention, yet it is to be understood that the same are suscep tibleof modification and change without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

. Referring to the drawings, Fig.1 is a top plan view of my lightingfixture installation completely assembled; Fig. 2 is a top perspectiveview-:o'f my hanger plate; Fig. 3 is a top perspective view 2 Claims.(01. 248-343) of a lighting fixture channel partially attached to thehanger plate; Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional view through one suspensionclip of amy lighting fixture installation fully assembled; Fig. 5 is adetailed broken sectionalview showing the inside of a lighting fixturechannel in a completed installation; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of myspring band and Fig. 7 is a top plan view of one of my suspension clips.A A preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a hanger plate In,which is preferably formed of metal. Hanger plate 10 is rectangular inshape and is built downwardly at right angles along its sides to formside members I l and I2. In the center of hanger plate I0 is a circularopening I3, on each side of which, are appair. of segmental openings l4and I5, which are. shaped like segments of a circlehaving a diameterslight-- 1y smaller than the width of hanger plate. 10.

Farther toward each of. the ends of, hanger. platev l0 are a pair of.hanger tabslt and I1. Han er tabs l6 and ll are. formed. by puttin 2 asubstantially rectangular portion of hanger plate Ill on' three sidesand then pushing the portion so cut downwardly. Hanger tabs I6 and I!are provided with a slight S-shaped curve, so that they are slightlyyieldable. Upon the application of pressurahanger tabs l5 and I! may bemoved slightly away from hanger plate Adjacent the center of theends ofhanger plate ID are a pair of circular openings [8 and IQ of the samediameter as circular opening i3. Adjacent opening l8 are a pair of screwopene ings 20 and 2 I, which are circular and are smaller in diameterthan circular opening l8. The area immediately surrounding screwopenings 20 and 2| is slightly raised in a mound shape to provide spacebeneath for a screw head; A similar pair of screw openings 22 and .23 isprovided adjacent circular opening l9.

Adjacent the opposite ends of side member ll of hanger plate [0 are twooblong openings 24 and 25.. Adjacent the oppo'site ends of side member12 are .two similar oblong openings 26 and 21. This comprises thecomplete construction of'my hanger plate l0.

The lighting fixture assembly which is to be installed comprises in parta longitudinal channel 28, which holds wiring leading to a plurality oflight sockets. The top side of channel 28 is provided with threeknockout type openings 29, 30 and.3|. The center opening 30 is oblong inshape and the side openings 29 and 3| are circular in shape. Theseopenings are so formed that they are normally covered by a piece ofmetal which may be knocked out by the use of a hammer or similar tool.

' Positioned adjacent each side of center opening 30 between it andadjacent openings 29 and 3| are a'pair of rectangular depressions 32 and33. Rectangular depressions 32 and 33 extend downwardly a slightdistance from the top surface of channel 28.

Adjacent two of the corners of rectangular depression 32 in itsdownwardly sloping sides are a pair of small round openings 34 and 35.Rectangular depression 33 has a similar pair of openings 36 and 31. Twosuspension clips38 and 39 are substantially U -shaped having smallextensions 40, 4|, 42 and 43 extending outwardly at right angles to fitwithin openings 34 and 35 and openings 36 and 31 respectively.

Suspension clips 38 and 39 are adapted to fit within rectangulardepressions 32 and 33 withoutprojecting above the top surface ofchannel-28; Suspension clip. 38 may be lifted, s'othat its and 49, whichare screw threaded on their outer 1 ends.

Depressible studs 48 and 49 are "attached to the opposite ends of anarrowrmetalliczspr nsi band 58 which is mounted withm,.:channel.a28

to the side of channel 28. It is bowed "fromthe point of attachment toits ends, so as to actas n.

spring.

.Depressible studs 48 and 49t'may be pushed inwardly from theoutside ofchannel 28 against the pressure of spring band .58 until theyrare flushwith the sidesof-channel 28. When pressure is no longer exertedupon'them, the pressurefrom spring band 50 causes :studs 48 and 49 to.again project from the sides of channel 28.

In use, my hanger plate [8 may be attached to the plaster of.:a ceiling.by the useof toggle screws extending through screw openings 28, 21, 22and23. If there isan existing electrical outlet box,. my hanger jplate'Hl'may be attached to it through circular opening l3 in the center ofhanger plate It.

It shouldbe particularly noted that in either case, the user isattaching to the ceiling only thehanger plate II], which weighs a fewounces. This can be .done .by onexnan, whereas the attachment of thelighting fixture itself wouldnecessarily require the services of asecond man to hold the heavy lighting fixture while the first manperformed the attaching operations.

After hanger plate H) has been attached to the ceiling or outlet box,the electrical wires are brought down either through reenter opening [3or through segmental openings 1'4 .and/or [5. The center knockoutopening 38in channel 28 is punched out and the electricalwires broughtout through the opening. a

The complete lighting fixture of "which channel .28. is a part may thenbe lifted :to' *the ceiling. Suspension clips 38 and 39 are lifted andslid between hanger tabs 16 and I! and the :top under-surface of hangerplate 18. Suspension clips 38 and 39 are slightly'larger .indiameterthan the space normally existing between the tops of hanger tabs N5 andI1 and the adjacent under surface of the top offhanger plate 1:0. Whensuspension clips 38 and 39 pass through this opening, hanger tabs l6 and11 yield sufllciently to permit the clips to pass and the tabs thenreturn to their normal position.

The electrical wires may then be spliced together. To complete theattachmentof the lighting fixture, channel 28 is:movedso that .the fixedstuds 44 and 45 projecting from its sides pass through the oblongopenings 24 :and 25 in side member H of hanger plate 11].

The depressible studs 48 and 49 may then be held flush against the.sides of channel .28 with the thumbs, while the hands exert upwardpressure on channel 28. Channel 28 is then pushed upwardly until it fitswithin :the :sides ofhanger plate .18. Depressible studs 18 and '49 thensnap back out through openings 26 and '21 the side along one side andadjacent the" top thereon- The center of spring band 58 .is firmlyattached,

member [2 of hanger plate M. A pair of wing nuts may then be screwthreaded on depressible studs 48 and 49. This completes the installationof the lighting fixture for a flush type mounting.

In the use of a pendant type mounting, hanger plate 18 is first attachedto the stem and canopy assembly through openings l8 and [9. The steman'd canopy assembly isthen attachedto'the ceil- "ingor outlet box.

The two side circular knockout openings 29 and 33 in channel 28 are thenpunched out. The elec trical .wires from channel 28 are pulled outthrough one' or both of openings 29 and 3|. .Channelfiflll isthenfastened to hanger plate l8 "by'meansof -suspension clips 38 and 38as previously-described' in the case of flush mounting.

The electrical wire splice is then made and the wires are then threadedup through one or both ofthe-stems of the pendant type mounting.

The channel 28 is then attached to hanger plate [8 .in the same manner.as that prevlously described forfiusn'mounting. in both types ofassembly, the segmental-openings l4 and. I 5 provide an opening forinspection of the wire :spllee.

.Having thus described myinventionJ claim:

1 A lighting .fixtureinstallation comprising :a hanger plate, saidhanger plate having aiplurality of small openingsxadapted.toreceivetoggle screws for attaching said hanger plate .toitheceiling'of a-roomrsaid hanger-plate having .a center circular-openingandagpairofend circular openings adjacent its ends, said centa'topeningadapted to be used for attaching :said hanger plate to an outlet box,said .end circular openings. adapted to be used .forattaching saidhanger plate to a stem and .canopy l-ightingzassembly, .said hangerplate having atpair 10f :hanger tabs, said hanger tabs extending beneaththezunder-surface of .said hanger plate, said z-hangertabs beingslightly yieldable to: pressure. said hanger plate havinga pair ofintegralside members, eachof side membershavingapair of openingsadjacent its ends, and a lighting fixture channel, said channel havingthree knock-out openings spaced to correspond with the circular openingsin said hanger plate,. said channel. having .a pair of rectangulardepressions, a pair of suspension clips attached to .said channel:adjacent .the .ends of .said rectangular depressionsgsaidchannel havingon one side thereoftapair of fixed istuds extending outwardlytherefromnnd spaced to correspond with the-openings adjacent the ends.of the .side members of saidhanger platesaid channel .having on itsother side a pair of .stud openings spaced to correspond with.said-fixedstuds, a spring band mounted withinoneside :of saidchannel andattached1thereto adjacent the .center of said band, a pair ofdepressible studs attached to the ends of saidspring :band,'sa'id'depressible studs normally extendingthrough therstud openings inthe side of said channel .and .so .held by said spring band, saiddepressible studshavingscrew-threaded ends adapted to receive wingnuts,said lighting fixture installation adapted to be installed by one man"by first attaching said .hangerplate to the ceiling, outlet box or stemand canopy assembly, said lightmgrnxturezchannelthen adapted to bepartially attached to said hanger plate by attaching :said suspensionclips to said hanger tabs, .sai'd .fixed studs adapted to be insertedinto the-openings adjacent'the ends of one of the side members of saidhanger plate, said depressible studs adapted to :be manually depressedagainst the pressure -of said spring band to permit said channel to fitbetween the side members of said hanger plate, said depressible studsadapted to be released to project outwardly through the stud openings inthe other side member of said hanger plate, said suspension clips andhanger tabs adapted to fit within the rectangular depressions in saidchannel, so that said channel fits within the sides of said hanger plateand is so held to complete the installation of the lighting fixture.

2. A lighting fixture installation comprising a hanger plate, saidhanger plate having a plurality of openings for attaching said hangerplate to the ceiling of a room, an outlet box, or a stem and canopylighting assembly, said hanger plate having a pair of hanger tabs, saidhanger tabs extending beneath the under-surface of said hanger plate,said hanger tabs being slightly yieldable to pressure, said hanger platehaving a pair of side members, each of side members having a pair ofopenings adjacent its ends, and a lighting fixture channel, said channelhaving openings for electrical wiring, said channel having a pair ofrectangular depressions, a pair of suspension clips attached to saidchannel adjacent said rectangular depressions, said channel having onone side thereof a pair of fixed studs extending outwardly therefrom andspaced to correspond with the openings adjacent the ends of the sidemembers of said hanger plate, said channel having on its other side apair of stud openings spaced to correspond with said fixed studs, aspring band mounted within one side of said channel and attached theretoadjacent the center of said band, a pair of depressible studs attachedto the ends of said spring band, said depressible studs nor- 5 mallyextending through the stud openings in the side of said channel and soheld by said spring band, said lighting fixture installation adapted tobe installed by one man by first attaching said hanger plate to theceiling, outlet box or stem and canopy assembly, said lighting fixturechannel then adapted to be partially attached to said hanger plate byattaching said suspension clips to said hanger tabs, said fixed studsadapted to be inserted into the openings adjacent the ends of one of theside members of said hanger plate, said depressible studs adapted to bemanually depressed against the pressure of said spring band to permitsaid channel to fit between the side members of said hanger plate, saiddepressible studs adapted to be released to project outwardly throughthe stud openings in the other side member of said hanger plate, saidsuspension clips and hanger tabs adapted to fit within the rectangulardepressions in said channel, so that said channel fits within the sidesof said hanger plate and is so held to complete the installation of thelighting fixture.

LESLIE K. SCHOENBROD.

REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date 2,532,528 Zuley Dec. 5, 1950 2,537,305

Crockett Jan. 9, 1951

